Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-03-04
EDISON MACON FOUND GUILTY OF
ILLICIT rISTlLLlNG.

EDISON MACON FOUND GUILTY OF
ILLICIT rISTILLING.
The jury Remain out Nearly Half of th,
Night Before They Agree-Another
Magoon Arrested he.Trials
to Continue To-day.
At the opening of the United States
court, Saturday morning, Richard Ken
nedy, Orrn =. Bacon and Frederick a
Allen of Chelsea, who were arrested and
brought to the jail here, late Friday might
by special Deputy Marshal Thomas Failey
were brought into court. There were two
indictments against Bacon and Allen, one
for illicit dstilling and the other for aid
ing and abetting the removal of distilled
spirits, and the indictment against Ken
needy was for the latter charge. They
were admitted to bail in the sum of $500.
The trial of Edison Magoon was then re-
sumed, and the first witness for the de-
! fence was o. Il. Bacon. He testified that
he and I. +. Allen owned a cider mill in
Chelsea. They usually made 1000 to 1900
barrels of cider, each fall Part of it was
sold out of town and part was kept in the
| Underhill cellar. The witness had seen
| X. w. Kennedy insane and at times he
was not responsible for what he said
On the cross examination witness said
their cider mill is not over 200 feet from
the Underhill house Allen owns half of
1t. Last fall they made about 1000 bar
rels of cider, had made some before Octo-
Der. They kept from 30 to 50 barrels.
The previous year, 1885, they made l2OO
to 1900 and kept perhaps 30 barrels. They
put pretty much all i'll the Underhill eel
| lar, and some of it is there now, There is
more in that cellar than they made in
/ ,rrI I
there. Of the make of 1885 only 10 or 10
barrels remain. TO his knowledge no
cider had ever been distilled in the I'm
derhill cellar. Had seen still at Mr. Ken
dall's in STAFFORD had had no cider
brandy, had never complained because
Allen sold his share In Chelsea and
made trouble while witness sent his away
Heard that Edison Magoon was distiling
cider brandy in Underhill cellar, and that
he was frightened away by discovery of
Berry. He had seen Edison in the Under
hill cellar during the Tunbridge fire
Would not say whether or not he ever
saw Edison distilling in the cellar.
The next witness was Frederick A. AL
len of Chelsea. He stated that he was
part owner of cider mill with Mr.. Bacon
They put in a new entrance to cellar in
1855. Witness denied conversation with
Berry testified to by latter. They had 30
or 40 barrels IN the Underhill cellar.
/
there, would have known if had been
there, because witness went to the cellar
several times a day to draw cider.
On the cross examination, witness said
they put in - or 50 barrels in the cellar
of the make of 1855; sold all but 20 bar
rels. Never knew of any of it being
there distilled. Never saw still, never
sold any cider brandy. Had heard that
Edison had distilled in the Underhill Gel
lar, after the latter was arrested. Never
knew that Bacon had any cider brandy.
The next witness was Richard w. Ken
needy OF Chelsea lie was well acquainted
with the Underhill premises, did not re-
member of going into that cellar with
Berry, met him there IN the night, never
saw still in that or any other cellar /;
never saw Edison Magoon there never
had any conversation with Berry or his
friends about distilling cider brandy
Witness had been in the Cnderhill cellar
at different times to buy cider.
At this point Loren Magoon was re-
called and said that he had talked with
Kennedy about still, and that Edison
and Kennedy moved the still from his
place
X. w. Kennedy then said that he bought
some cider brandy from Loren who
stated that he made it with his own still
On cross-eXaminatlon he said it was in
October when he and Edison went to
Loren Magoon's, .this was after the Tun-
bridge fair Witness had known Edison
but short time lived about six miles
with him. Saw Mrs. Harriet Magoon at
Loren's. Never saw stove in the Tn
derhlll cellar. Did not know that he
would know still if he should see one
Never got one at Loren Magoon's Wit
ness had met Berry and Allen at Mrs
Clark's where Allen boarded. Would not
say that he had not met Berry at the I'm
derhlll place. He did not know there was
any cider brandy III his sugar house.
Moses Magoon was the next witness ;
was 80 years old and resided on farm in
| Corinth. Witness had never distilled
cider brandy for himself or helped his
brothers. He was never present at his
own house when Loren Magoon was there
and helped set up a still. Witness had
been to Loren's home several times in the
past year. Had seen IA still at Lorens on
the King place. Saw worm and boiler
On the cross examination witness said
he lived eight miles from Loren's. He
never saw still set up in his house
Thought he should recognize one if he
saw it, The only place he ever saw a
still was up to Loren's.
Asa Magoon said he was 81 years Old
| He'lived on farm in Orange and through
the fall he bought turkeys and other
poultry. Loren was his brother as was
also Edison. Loren was the only one of
the family who owned a still. On cross
examination. witness admitted that he
had seen number of stills. Loren had
had several taken away, one OF them six
or seven years ago. Loren was but II or
% now, but he had had his wages eN er
since he was IL. He had seen one in some
sugar house, but could not state where
| Witness admitted that he hired the Nc
Crillis place but never went there to
live. Did not know how the still got
there had heard there was one Loren
/ IA h,.N mil >.
house for the still for Loren made his
home with witness, for he was absent
| from home half of the time.
Slas Magoon said he was p years old
and lived on "A farm in Corinth. Moses
and Elijah MagOon We're his brothers.
| Witness hired Moses farm in 1888 there
was no still run there to his knowledge
| nor IN 1856. Witness saw still running at
| LOrens several times. No one was at
work there except Loren and his wife
Neyersaw still at EdsOns house and
never saw him run one anywhere. Wit
| ness worked for Edison last snrinp and